Máirín Quill
Question:108 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Health if he intends to put in place a register of children born with birth defects to enable proper planning for public service in the years ahead. [3633/97]
Written Answers. - Birth Defects Register.
Limerick East): Information on birth defects is currently available from a number of sources: registers operate in the Eastern Health Board area and in Galway; the birth notification scheme collects information on birth defects which are apparent before a new born baby is discharged from hospital and information would be available from the hospital in-patient inquiry scheme in respect of babies with birth defects who were subsequently treated in an acute hospital. The service needs of children with a mental handicap are reflected on the national intellectual disability database which was recently established.
The report of the review group on health and personal social services for people with physical and sensory disabilities Towards an Independent Future refers to the need to identify service user needs on a regional and national basis in a consistent manner for planning purposes. It recommends the development of a national database on the service requirements of persons with physical and sensory disabilities and this could include the needs of children with birth defects. The review group recommended that a database development committee be established to prepare detailed proposals for the development of the database.